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Eat Well. Breathe Well.

Nutrition Advice for People with Asthma

An important part of a
healthy lifestyle is good
nutrition. Good nutrition
involves choosing healthy foods that
can work to heal and repair your body
and make it stronger against disease.

It’s important to include a variety
of foods in your diet. Each of the food
groups provides nutrients that are important
to you, and foods in one group can’t
replace those in another. Choose a variety
of foods within each food group, and
eat small amounts of fats, oils, and sweets.
Talk with your doctor or dietitian about
your specific nutritional needs. If you
have asthma, eating a healthy diet can
help you feel and breathe better.

Managing Mealtime
Shortness of
breath at mealtimes can make eating hard
work. If you use all your energy preparing
a healthy meal, you may find yourself
unable to eat or enjoy what you have
prepared. If you have asthma, it’s important
to conserve your energy in order
to get the most from your meals.

Many people with asthma feel more
short of breath when their stomach is
full. This is because the diaphragm
cannot work as well when the stomach
is full. You can satisfy your nutritional
needs, keep your stomach comfortable,
and help your diaphragm to work better
by eating smaller, more frequent meals.
Eating small, frequent meals also reduces
the chance of reflux. In addition,
plan to eat before you are too hungry
or tired. It’s important to refuel before
you hit empty.

If you
have asthma, eating a healthy diet can
help you feel and breathe better.

Relax at mealtime. Breathe evenly
while you are chewing and eating. Stop
eating if you need to catch your breath.

Use prepared foods to save time and
energy in the kitchen. Frozen meals,
prepared foods, or take-out meals from
a restaurant can make your life easier.
However, the sugar, salt, or fat content
of these foods may be higher than homemade.
Be sure to ask if you are following
a special diet. You can also double or
triple your favorite recipes when cooking
to keep your freezer full for times
when you don’t feel like cooking.

When it comes to meal preparation,
do the tasks that require the most effort
when you have the most energy. For example,
many people would agree that
grocery shopping is a tiring task. This
chore can be done when you feel freshest,
in the morning or after a rest. Better
yet, have a friend or family member pick
up your groceries for you.

Don’t stand in the kitchen when you
can sit. Bring your chopping, cutting, and
mixing projects over to the kitchen table
and sit while you prepare the food, or
keep a barstool by the kitchen counter.

Avoid that “too full” feeling by eating
less of the foods that cause gas.
Common offenders include asparagus,
beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage,
carbonated drinks, cauliflower,
cucumbers, melons, garlic, raw onions,
peas, peppers, radishes, rutabagas, sausage,
spicy foods, and turnips. Keep a
food diary to find out if they are a problem
for you.

Steroids and Nutrition
Some people
with asthma take steroid pills on a
regular basis. Steroid pills are strong
medicines that decrease swollen airways.
They also have some nutritional side
effects to be aware of. Steroid therapy
has the potential to interfere with the
way the body uses specific nutrients,
including calcium, potassium, sodium,
protein, and vitamins D and C.

If you take steroid pills for asthma, it
is very important to eat a well-balanced
diet. A healthy diet can make up for some
of the nutritional effects of steroid therapy.

Over a long period, steroid pills can
increase the risk of osteoporosis (loss of
calcium in the bones). Therefore, you
should eat foods high in calcium, such
as dairy products. In addition, limit salt
and foods that are high in sodium, and
decrease the amount of cholesterol and
fats in your diet to prevent other side effects.
Take certain supplements, such as
calcium, and a multivitamin. Talk with
your doctor or dietitian about specific
concerns regarding steroids and your diet.

Asthma and Reflux
Many people
with asthma also have gastroesophageal
reflux, or GERD. In this condition, the
muscle between the esophagus and stomach
is weak, and stomach contents and
acid back up into the esophagus. This
may or may not cause symptoms. Many
people with GERD can experience
heartburn, pain, sore throat, swallowing
problems, chronic cough, a choking
sensation, and aspiration. Excess weight
and dietary habits can contribute to reflux.
Here are a few recommendations
to decrease your risk of reflux and
heartburn:

Lose weight. Excess pressure in the
abdomen can cause stomach contents
to back up into the esophagus.

Avoid overeating. Choose several
small meals rather than three large meals.

Avoid eating for two to three hours
prior to bending over or lying down.